But fans demanded he dipped into the market earlier than he did, with some saying Per Mertesacker was no longer up to the job.

Wenger shrugged off those claims at the club's AGM earlier today.

GETTY

Arsene Wenger denies claims Per Mertesacker is not good enough for Arsenal

Every Arsenal player's weekly wages revealed

HOW do Arsenal players' wages compare?

1 / 28

GETTY

Krystian Bielik - £5,000-a-week

“Why did I not buy a centre-half before the start of the season? Mertesacker was injured very early," he said.

“I don’t agree that Mertesacker is not good enough and Gabriel was injured before the season and is experienced and (Rob) Holding has also done well."

Wenger has also explained the difficulty in getting the Mustafi deal over the line.

GETTY

Shkodran Mustafi has started his Arsenal career well and is unbeaten in the Premier League

“We met with Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis in the States with the agent of Shkodran Mustafi”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

“We started negotiating, we met with Ivan Gazidis in the States with the agent of Mustafi and agreed the deal but it took long to get over the line as Valencia were reluctant to sell," he added.

“We also took longer because in pre-season he was injured and he couldn’t have played against Liverpool (on the opening day).

“When he came he had had just 45 minutes of competition. We needed him to push too and that is sometimes a slow process as it is not only us that can decide whether he signs.

GETTY

Arsene Wenger says Shkodran Mustafi's transfer to Arsenal took a while due to Valencia's stance

“With centre-backs, if you look at the investments made all over the country it is a difficult subject as a lot of clubs invested a a lot of money and it is difficult to find the quality to strengthen your squad.”

Mustafi is yet to lose a game in an Arsenal shirt and has helped them reach second in the Premier League table behind Manchester City.